Friction clutch



' Jan. 27, 1931. H. vQ REED 1,790,284

FRICTION CLUTCH Filed March 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. '27, 1931. v, REED 1,790,284

FRICTION CLUTCH Filed March 11, 1927 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE:

HAROLD v. REED, or OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORG annex COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FRICTION CLUTCH,

Application filed March 11,

This-invention relates to friction clutches and its object is to provide novel and 1111- provedarrangement of antifriction meansbetween the clutch levers and the clutch release device whereby the operation of the clutch is simplified and improved.

provide antifriction means which can be readily and easily replaced as required.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of the invention: 1 Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a clutch ernbodying the invention and with antifriction buttons carried by the release device.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view showing the antifriction buttons carried by the clutch sleeve. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a plan elevation ofanother embodiment of the invention with a release plate having the antifriction devices thereon.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on'the line 55 of Fig. 4. y

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings 7 is the cover plate of the clutch and it is secured by bolts 8 to the flywheel 9 mounted on the driving or crank shaft 10. The cover plate is mounted on and keyed to a sleeve 11 which is provided with a peripheral flange 12, and a spring 13 is arranged between the cover plate and the flange. Clutch levers 14 are pivoted at 15 on the cover plate with their inner ends 16 engaged with the sleeve and their outer ends 17 bearing upon lugs 18 on the pressure ring 19. The spring normally presses the sleeve outward thereby causing the clutch levers to force the pressure ring inward and press the friction faced clutch or driven plate 20 into operative engagement with the fly wheel. The clutch or driven plate is rigidly mounted on the driven shaft 21.

suitable antifriction bearing material, such each other;

In Figs. 1 and 2 the clutch release device is 1927: swarm. 174,467.-

as a graphite composition, are mounted on tons 25 are mounted'on the plate end 12 of the olutchsleeve 11. w The antifriction but- And a further object of the invention is to tons are circular in shape and are provided with reduced portions to fit in the openings 24' in the clutch release plate 24 (Fig. 1) or the openings 12" in the sleeve 11' (Fig. 2).

In Figs. 4-6 Ihave shown-a clutch release device 26 upon which the antifriction buttons'27 are detachably held between lugs 28 by the spring yokes 29. The lugs 28 are inclined inwardly and "forwardly towards The antifriction buttons 27 have beveled ends 27 i and they areadapted to be arrangedin position between the lugs, entering them from the periphery of the clutch release device plate 26. The spring yoke'has an end 29 to engage the antifric; tion device and a bent end 29" to engage the clutch release device plate, which is provided with a central opening 26 to receive the driven shaft 21. The spring yoke can, be readily engaged with the edge of the plate 26' about the opening 26' and snapped over the. periphery of the plate to engage the antifriction button for holding it between the lugs 28; and the yoke can be readily snapped back away from the button and the periphery of the plate and dis engaged from the plate to release the button 7 and permit its removal.

The invention provides an improved friction clutch of simple construction which can be inexpensively produced and easily assembled, which is eflicient in operation and can be maintained at low cost.

I have illustrated the invention in one type of clutch in the accompanying drawings, but I reserve the right to use the invention in other clutches and to make all such changes as may be necessary or desirable for adapting it to other clutches or for other purposes, within the scope of the following claims. 1

I claim:

1. The combination of a clutch release plate, an antifriction button, means on the plate to receive the button and detachable means for securing the button to the plate.

2. The combination of a clutch release plate, an antifriction button, means on the plate to receive the button, and a spring yoke adapted to be engaged with the plate and'with the button tosecure the button on the plate.

3. The combination of a clutch release plate, converging lugs on the plate, an antifriction button having beveled "faces to en gage said lugs, and means for securing the button on the plate.

4. The combination of a clutch release plate, converging lugs on the plate, a button having beveled surfaces to engage said lugs, and a spring yoke engaging the plate and also engaged with the button to hold it on the plate between the lugs.

5. In a friction clutch,the combination of a sleeve having an annular flange plate :at one-end thereof, a clutch release device-coinrisin a collar and an annular flan e Jlate on the collar, the flange plate on the sleeve and the flange plate on the collar having :opposing parallel plane faces, oneaof said plates having a plurality of openings therein, and antifiriction buttons having reduced portions seated in said openings and heads arranged to engage the opposing flange plate, said buttonheads being enlarged-and forming shoulders Which engage :the flange plate upon which the buttons are mounted.

HAROLD V. REED. 

